Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge and welcome the Minister's acceptance of the point we made about the need for a guarantee of regulation, rather than just a possibility of regulation, of data protection in the application of these factors. In that sense, I support and welcome amendments Nos. 30 and 37. Amendment No. 37 is almost an identical version of our amendment, amendment No. 38, but with the placings added. In that context, we are quite happy to accept amendment No. 37 instead of amendment No. 38, as it does the same work. I also welcome the decision on amendment No. 30 and the Minister's commitment to introduce regulations on this. We were looking for something useful, with regard to the suitable and specific measures, to recognise that specific tailored measures may be needed with regard to a number of these technologies. However, as I understand from the Minister's reply, he is still aware that further measures may be needed which are suitable, specific and tailored to these technologies and this context and that those measures would be in addition to the basic measures within the Data Protection Act. In the context where the Minister has taken on board our concerns about regulation and committed that there shall be regulation in each of these two areas, we will be happy to withdraw our amendments and we look forward to engaging with the Minister. We will be looking, with great interest, to the regulations that will be created. We hope they will be of the highest standards and affect the principles of necessity and proportionality.